Scouring chain



April 8, 1947. w. HASENDAHL.` 2,418,552

SCOURING CHAIN Filed Nov. 5, 1940 Patented Apr. 8, 1947 ururlao NSTATES PATENT Aolf-First:

SCOURING CHAIN Walter` Hasendahl, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 5, 1940, Serial No. 364,427

(Cl. `m-104) l 13 Claims. .l

The invention relates to a chain for cleaning and scouring the entire inside surface and chimes of a drum. By the Vuse of known machines, the drum is rotated on its own axis and on another axis to `tumble it. It is thus tumbled withthe chain of `this invention inside of it and with or without the use of cleaning fluids. The links of the chain thus make scouring and cleaning contact with the inside of the drum as it is tumbled.

The 4objects of the invention are to provide a chain having long wear, `to provide chain links havingextensive and effective cleaning surfaces, to provide links having cutting points and chisel like cutting ends, to reduce the likelihood of the chain balling up when it is being used in the drum so that it can be easily removed through the bunghole of the drum, and to provide links which may be economically manufactured.

It will more particularly appear how the above `and other objects of the invention are accomplished, from the following specication when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a portion of a drum cleaning chain ac.. cording to this invention, and showing the preferred form of link. Fig. 2 is a front elevational View, with a portion of a drum in section, illustrating the removal and insertion of the chain of Fig. l with respect to the drum. Fig. 3 is a View partly in section showing how one of the links may be broken Vin case the chain is balled up or knotted on its removal from the drum.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a strip of sheet metal showing how the links of Figs. 1-3 may be stamped Without wasting stock.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of a modified form of cleaning chain.

Fig. 6 is a plan View of another modification of the chain of Fig. 1, illustrating the use of cross links.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the drum cleaning chain of Fig. 1, which is the preferred form, comprises a chain made up of a large number of running links, only three of which are'illustrated. As all such links are substantially the same, the description of one of them will apply to all of them. The link I is in the `shape of a diamond, and the diamond link is preferably7 cut from a strip of sheet metal 4 as shown in Fig. 4, each cut 5 forming sides of two links. The link I has va central aperture E having sloping sides I and 8 to permit the. ad-

jacent links to..slide.around as the chain is tumbled inside of` the drum. The axis `of the central aperture 6 which is illustrated by `the line 9, is misaligned with reference to the longitudinal axis IB of the diamond link I, so that whenthe chain is suspended, the lower point II of link I is out of alignment with the upper point l2 of the link 3. This `reduces a likelihood -of the vadjacent points such `as II and I2 `striking each other and balling up the chain when it is dropped in a pile. However, if desired, the axis of the aperture 6 may be aligned `with the longitudinal aXis of the link I.

rThe sides I3 and I4 of link `I meet in an acute angle, thereby providing a chisel-like cutting edge as shown at I5- for link 2. Similarly the sides I6 and II of link l form a chisel like cuttingedge `as shown wat I8 for link 2. Also the chisel like edges I5 and I8 are preferably blevelled, thereby providing a pick-like cutting point I9 on `the left side of link 2 and a similar cutting point 20 on the right side of link 2, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby a pick-like cutting point contacts the inside surface of the drum, regardless of whether one side or the other of link 2 contacts the inside surface of the drum.

Alternate links I and 3 are provided with slots or cuts through their sides as shown `at 2l and 22, to facilitate assembling the links to form a chain, and to facilitate breaking a particular link I', with a bar 53, as shown in Fig. 3, in case the chain should have become balled up as shown at 25 before removing it from the bunghole -23 of the drum 24.

As shown in Fig. 2, after the drum has been scoured and cleaned with the chain, the chain V25 may be removed from the inside of the drum by means of a hook 25. As the links of the chain in Figs. 1 and 2 are substantially flat, a double chain may be removed through a bunghole 23 having a diameter only slightly larger than the Width of a single link.

It will also be apparent that the sides I4 and I'I `of link I meet to form a. cutting point and corner 21, and the sides I3 and I6 meet to form a cutting point and corner 28. l

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the contour of link 29 is formed by two convex: curves 30 and 3l which meet to form cutting edges 33 and 34 which are adapted to enter the chime of the drum as it is tumbled, while the adjacent portions of the curves 30 and 3I scrape the inside surface of the drum. Link 29 is provided with a central aperture 35 having sloping sides 36 and 31 which facilitate the adjoining links `to :slide vwith respect to link 2a asthe chain is tumbled. The mid portion of link 29 receives much greater wear than the side of link 29, and therefore the dimension 38 in the center of the link is made greater than the dimension 39 near the end of the link. Also ample material is provided behind point 33 to allow for wear here. Similarly, in Fig. 1, the material behind points Il, l2, 21 and 28 is thicker than the material at the places 54 and 55, to take care of the dierence in wear and tear.

Alternate links 4l] are provided with a cut 4I like cut 2l in Fig. 1, and for the same purpose.

In Fig. 6 a modified form of link, 42, is shown, wherein the sides B3 and 44 are convex curves intersecting with straight parallel ends 45 and 46, thereby providing four cutting edges at the intersections of these sides and ends. Link 42. has a cut 41 for the purpose described in connection with cuts 2l and M. The chain in Fig. 6 may be used for small bungholes and the links 42 thereof may be stamped from the blanks cut out by forming the central aperture 35 of the link 29 in Fig. 5. If desired, the link l2 may be provided with a cross link 48 which is the same .as link 42, except it need not have the cut 47. lOne or more of the other running links i9 and `I) ofthe chain in Fig. 6 may similarly be provided with cross links 5l and 52 to increase the weight of the chain and to add scouring surfaces and cutting edges and points. u

With regard to all of the chains aboveA described, it will be apparent that the alternate links have cuts such as 2l, and the remaining alternate links such as 2 have no such cuts as they arenot needed.- Also all o1' the links above described may be made of a known alloy or steel, suitably heattreated to make it of suitable hardness such as thefhardness of a le, and the chain will be hard and tough so that it will Wear a .long time. By way of example, Figs. l, 5 and 6 illustrate full scale the size of links which may be used. If such links are employed in connection with a vbunghole having a diameter which is only slightly greater than the width of each of such links, nevertheless a double length or such chain as illustrated in Fig. 2 will pass through the bunghole by Vreason of the use of a substantial planary form of link as shown and described in connection with all of the forms of the invention,

example, any type of link may be used as a cross link for the running links. Also two or more cross links or none may be used for some or all of the running links. Also the invention is not limited to any particular manner of moving the drum, and in fact may be used wherever desired for cleaning articles other than drums.

I claim: v y

-1. A scouring and cleaning device comprising a plurality of similar drum scouring elements linked together in seriatim and forming a chain, eachof said'elements comprising ailat str-ipof -sheet'metal punching of uniform thickness 4 having substantially congruent, parallel iiat top and link elements.

bottom faces separated by the sheet metal thickness and having contours vproviding a plurality of scraping edges and a plurality of cutting points within the area defined by the top and bottom faces of said strip, each of said elements having an aperture in which the preceding and following ones of said elements are linked and may be moved into juxtaposition, whereby a double length of said chain may be formed by suspending an intermediate one of said elements, said double length of rsaid chain having as its Width, a dimension substantially the same as the width of a single chain, to facilitate insertion and removal of a double length chain through a bung hole only slightly larger in size than the width of a single length of said chain.

2. A scouring and cleaning device according to claim 1 comprising a single cross link'of said elements for each of a plurality of the running links of said chain.

3. A scouring and cleaning chain comprising a plurality of similar flat diamond shaped elements of iiat strip metal linked with each other,'the edges of said flat strip comprising within its contour scraping or scouring edges, and the ends of said flat strip having points within its contour comprising scouring or scraping chisel-like cutting ends, each of said elements having an aperture in which the preceding and following ones of said elements are linked and may be moved into juxtaposition, whereby a double length of said chain may be formed by suspending an intermediate one of said elements, said double length of said chain having as its width, a dimension substantially theV same as the Width of a single chain, to facilitate insertion and removal of a double length chain through a bung hole only slightly larger in size than the width of a single length of said chain. Y

4. A scouring device according to claim 3, wherein certain of the chisel-like cutting ends of said diamond are bevelled at an acute angle, thereby providing sharpvpick-like cutting points on opposite sides of each diamond element at opposite-ends thereof.

5. A scouring and cleaning chaincomprising a plurality of similar diamond shaped elements .linked together, the edges of said diamond vcomprising scraping or scouring edges, and the points of said diamond comprising scouring or scraping chisel-like cutting ends, each ofv said elements having acentral aperture having ends so related to their respective cutting points, that the cutting points on adjacent links of said chain are mis- Yaligned with each other when Vsaid chain is suspended.

6. A scouring and cleaning chain comprising a plurality of similar shaped elements of" strip metal linked together, the edges of said elements comprisingrscraping or scouring' edges, and said elements having .points 4comprising scouring or scraping cutting ends, each of said elements having a centralV aperture vhaving ends so related to their respective cutting points', that the cutting points on adjacent links of said chain are misaligned with each other when said chain is suspended. Y w

7. A scouring and cleaning chainaccording to claim 5, wherein the central aperture in the link elements of said chain is so positioned, that the width of the material around said aperture is greatest where thewear is greatest,A to Wit: at the middle of .the sides and atthe ends of said i l 8' i A 'scouring and' Cleaning `4 chain according to claim 6, wherein the ycentral aperture in the link elements of said chain is so positioned, that the width of the material around said aperture is greatest where the wear is greatest, to wit: at the middle of the sides and at the ends of said link elements.

9. A scouring and cleaning device according to claim 1 comprising cross link means for each of a plurality of the running links of said chain, said cross link means having cutting points and scraping edges.

10. A scouring and cleaning chain comprising a plurality of similar flat link elements of flat strip metal linked with each other, the edges of said flat strip comprising within its contour scraping or scouring edges, and the ends of flat strip having points within its contour com prising scouring or scraping chisel-like cutting ends, each of said elements having an aperture in which the preceding and following ones of said elements are linked and may be moved into juxtaposition, whereby a double length of said chain may be formed by suspending an intermediate one of said elements, said double length of said chain having as its width, a dimension substantially the same as the width of a single chain, to facilitate insertion andremoval of a double length chain through a bung hole only slightly larger in `size than the width of a single length of said chain.

11. A scouring and cleaning chain comprising a plurality of similar running link elements linked directly together, the edges of each of said elements comprising scraping or scouring edges, and said elements having points comprising scouring or scraping chisel-like cutting ends, each of said elements having a central aperture having ends so related to their respective cutting points, that the cutting points on adjacent link elements of said chain are misaligned with each other when said chain is suspended.

12. A cleaning chain comprising a plurality of running links directly linked together in seriatim, each of said running links comprising a fiat link of heat-treated wear resisting sheet metal of uni form thickness, each of said links being of substantial thickness and having on opposite sides thereof a plurality of extended scraping edges and cutting points within two parallel surface planes dening the thickness lof said links, said Cil by its own Weight the inside of a container when moved therein, each of said links having a central aperture so positioned that the width of the material around said aperture is greatest where the wear is greatest, to wit: at the middle of the sides and at the ends of said links.

13. A scouring chain link of sheet metal in the shape of a diamond having a central aperture large enough to receive a similar link, each of the four edges on opposite sides of said diamond con*- prising scouring or scraping edges, with adjacent ones of said edges merging into four cutting points, and the thickness of said diamond throughout being substantially uniform and the thickness of said sheet, said diamond having substantially congruent flat opposite faces, said link having a central aperture so positioned that the width of the material around said aperture is greatest where the Wear is greatest, to wit: at the middle of the sides and at the ends of said link.

WALTER. HASENDAHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,741,223 Case Dec. 31, 1929 1,214,631 Wolford Feb. 6, 1917 396,404 Kelley Jan. 22, 1889 1,421,997 Sandquist July 4, 1922 1,901,345 Carlson Mar. 14, 1933 876,220 McCalmont Jan. 7, 1908 717,004 Hunt Dec. 30, 1902 D. 39,706 Lightbody Dec. 22, 1908 A0 700,499 rving May 20, 1902 422,214 Hinds Feb. 25, 1890 832,545 Gillett Oct. 2, 1906 1,431,771 Berglund Oct. 10, 1922 1,728,266 Fassnacht Sept. 17, 1929 r 1,466,566 Segman Aug. 28, 1923 4') 1,701,610 Forstner Feb. 12, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country l Date 2,159 Swed. Apr. 26, 1890 319,334 Fr. Ju1y 19, 1902 

